Green Earth Dream.

10 Comments

I have a dream, a dream of a green Earth. An Earth where people are gardeners, where we know how to care for our great, green, Earth garden, and to work harmoniously with the planet and her plants and animals.

But it’s just a dream. And maybe some day I’ll wake up and discover I’m in a nightmare, where not one single person cares about caring for our planet. Our planet which already is beautiful, but could be even more so, if only…

Much is already known about how we can live in harmony with our surroundings, with nature, and with the seasons. It seems to me that distraction is a problem.Distraction with things that really aren’t important when you look at the big picture. Then there is just plain disinterest. And there is inertia.

I’ll keep dreaming. Every day I work a little on being more in harmony with my own spot on the Earth. It seems to me that the best place to start is my own back yard, my neighborhood, my city, my state, and my country. Change starts with me.

Are you on the path of change? What have you changed about yourself and your neighborhood?

Comments

The push to grow your own food is moving fast. And it’s not just taking off in liberal circles–my (very conservative) sister now has a small garden in her backyard.

As for me, I’m doing what I can in my little apartment. I grow basil, mint, cilantro and have just added a tomato plant (fingers crossed I won’t kill it). Disgust about industrialized food is a great motivator.

Maggie, I agree with you that growing your own food is important in the green Earth equation. For me it’s not just about the food, it’s that it changes your thinking. It’s a connection to place. When I’m growing my own food, even just a little, I start to think about where my water comes from, the chemicals my neighbor may be using on their lawn, how I depend on the weather, and the person who is growing the other food I buy. It’s almost revolutionary when you put it that way. I’m glad to hear that food growing is spreading in different circles.

Chase, I totally agree with you on changing your diet. I’m not a vegetarian, but I’ve cut my meat consumption in about half. For some people it’s too daunting to go straight vegetarian. I recommend trying half-way for people who otherwise wouldn’t even try.

Sometimes it can be hard to find seeds at this time of year though. I’d never heard of planting in summer for fall harvest until I moved to Kansas, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work anywhere which has a similar climate. If not, try your hand at growing beansprouts. They are super easy, nutritious, great for apartment dwellers, and fascinating for kids to watch.

We’ll be getting some food growing on the balcony next year (we moved in this year and it’s too late) and we’re wondering if we can plonk a solar panel on the roof for the computer. Today I took the neighbours little one out on the back of my Xtracycle for the first time. Poor boy didn’t want to get off…

Melissa, I think it’s great that you are finding ways to take the “going green” message straight to kids. Many changes seem to be hard to make simply because they are habits – kids are often more adaptable than adults. We are all influenced by our peer group – kids maybe even more so.

I’d love to hear more about how this works in your neighborhood. Have you seen changes yet?

This is a thought-provoking post Alison. I agree, that change needs to start with each and everyone of us. I’m working on getting the “going green” message out to the kids in the neighborhood and I’ve enlisted my son to help me. I feel that while it is important for everyone to change, if we can get today’s youth on board, we will all reap the benefits in the future.